Two wind-powered maintenance motherships have been launched in Qidong, a county-level city of Qidong in East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: qidongfabu]

Two wind-powered maintenance motherships, built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Qidong Marine Engineering Co Ltd, were launched in Qidong in East China's Jiangsu province on Sept 16. They are the first such vessels to be made in Asia.

This marks the first time a wind turbine original equipment manufacturer in Asia has introduced dedicated service and maintenance mother ships for offshore wind power, filling the gap in China's offshore wind-powered maintenance vessels and enhancing the country's capabilities in offshore wind development.

The offshore wind-powered maintenance ship is the primary transportation tool for construction, operation, and maintenance on offshore wind farms. It allows the maintenance team to quickly reach the wind turbine sites, providing services for the maintenance of offshore wind turbines.

By minimizing downtime and costs, reducing turbine failures and shutdowns, and improving the economic efficiency of wind farms, these motherships play a crucial role in offshore wind power.

The two new ships are the first domestically developed wind-powered maintenance mother ships. One is a 100-person maintenance vessel with a length of 93.4 meters, a width of 19 meters, and a design speed of 12.3 knots. The other is a 60-person maintenance vessel with a length of 72.76 meters, a width of 17.5 meters, and a design speed of 12 knots.

Both ships can sustain themselves for 30 days and meet the requirements for unlimited navigation areas, enabling continuous operations in far-offshore wind fields.